Swansea Channel looking good for 2012 Heaven Can Wait charity regatta

Yachts coming from outside of Lake Macquarie for this year's Heaven Can Wait charity yacht regatta will have no trouble transiting the Swansea Channel following an on-going dredging program over the past 12 months.
The regatta, which this year celebrates its seventh year, will be held on the NSW Labour Day long weekend, taking place on Saturday September 29 and Sunday September 30.

This year's event will again include the 24-hour 'Classic' race from 1100 hours on September 29 to 1100 hours on September 30, and the daylight hours One Lap Dash, which takes boats on a 30 Nm course around the lake.

In addition, it will see a new race, the 12-hour 'Challenge' starting at 1100 hours on September 29 and finishing at 2300 hours that night.

As in previous years, the Heaven Can Wait regatta raises funds for the NSW Cancer Council, for support and research programs for men's cancers. Some of the funds raised also go to Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie.

Dredging of the channel's shallow spots around Swan Bay and the 'Dropover' into the lake began late in 2011, and will continue into the summer boating season, said Frank Downing, Hunter Region director of the Boat Owners Association (BOA).

'There should be no issues with the Swansea Channel for this year's Heaven Can Wait,' he said.

'The dredge is still working at the Dropover and will shortly move to the Swan Bay area to tidy up work performed late last year.'

Downing said he expected depths of around 3 m or more throughout the channel.

'Deeper draft boats coming in will still have to work the tides and keep watch on the level of the lake which varies mainly with atmospheric pressure -- in other words, show good seamanship.'

The Royal Motor Yacht Club Toronto, which is hosting the event, can arrange moorings for boats coming from outside of the lake. Further information on this is available from the event's website.

For further information on the 2012 Heaven Can Wait charity regatta, please go to www.heavencanwait.com.au. To enter, simply click on the ENTER HERE button.